Tennis racket



TENNIS RACKET Filed June 2 1 24 2 Sheets-shat l 30 fzv-rzz ok m 922% U .3 i w Q m w 4 Z g. 955%. g

I 1,636 867 R. H. ROBINSON IE-NNIS RACKET Filed June 26, 1924 2 Sheet s-Sheet 2 B WY MW Q thereof, in which 2-- racket.

Patented July 26,

"UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

BOY n. nonixsox, or cmcseo, rumors.

summon filed June as, 1994. Serial n). mass.

reduce the wind resistance, to provide .in-

creased strength in the frame, to facilitate the stringing, to eliminate the use ofwood in the head and throat, to protect the string ing from being cut by the frame, and in general to rovide an improved article of the character described.

The many other objects and advantages will be better understood by reference to the following specification when 7 considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings illustrating certain selected embodiments pleted racket embodying certain principles of my invention. I v

Fig. 2 is a front view of a completed Fig. 3 is a detail of a modified form ,of frame construction. I

Fig. 4 is a front view of a modified form of frame.

Fig. 5 is a transversesection on the line 55 of Fig. 2. V

"Fig. 6 is a transverse v section on the line 6 -6ofFig'.4. a.

Fig. .7 is a transverse section onthe line 7-7 of'Fig. 2.1 a

Figs. 8 to 15 are transverse sections of modified forms of-fi-amep Fig. 1.

Figs.'16 and.17 aredetail perspective views of modified forms of. frame construction, and Fig. 18 is'an enlarged detail perspective view .of the throat reinforcing shown in Rackets or bats for-use in tennis or other similar games have generally been constructedof wood and strung with purpose-and recent y there has been manufactured-a considerable number of rackets having tubular. metalframes, 'These metal frames aregenerally strongerand more un form than the wooden ames and their 4 smaller cross sectional area'redu'ces the wind t. Great difficulty h -been encountere .for a. number of. years in securin suitable wood for this My improved frame construction has all the advantages of the metal frame butmay be more'economically produced. One of the features of my improved frame is the truss construction which is light in weight and yet possesses great strength. The advantages of this type of construction long have been recognized in the engineering and building arts. This truss framing may be utilized alone or embedded in some suitable material such as bakelite, celeron condensite or fiber of the type nowusedin gears. Such material is plastic and has high compressive strength and relatively high tensile strength. It is reinforced with fabric in some forms as shown. I prefer to build the truss construction of wire because of its strength. The form of the framing may be greatly varied as will be readily evident from the Fig. I is a front view of a partially 'comdetail description which follows, but it, should .be clearly understood that this de- 'scription is merely illustrative of the principles involved.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, 5,-7 and 18, the frame comprises a continuous truss 20 extending along one side of the handle, as 21, next forming the oval head as 22', and then returning along the other side of the handle as 23, the ends of this frame being designatedv 24 and 25. 'A'short section 26 of framing, similar in character to the main frame, ypreferably connects the portions thereof to form the throatof the racket. Short lengths of truss construction as 27 are preferably secured tothe frame adjacent the throat to reinforce 'thisframe where the greatest strain occurs. In the constructionof the racket, I prefer to bend the frame in the manneryindicated and then wrap the handle portion with 'one 'or'more wires as 29. These wrappin wires are preferably welded, brazed, soldere or otherwise fastenedto the frame members at the points of contact therewith.

more spaced longitudinal wires as 30 and transverse or connecting. wires as '31. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 there'arefo'ur such longitudinals connected at intervals by separate loops which are secured to the longi- The frame comprises preferably two ortudinals in the same manner as the handle wrappin wires previously described- The extremities of the lonfiitudinals in the throat section 26 are (prefera l the correspon y similarlysecured to. I 'ing wires in the main frame.

A portion of one of the reinforcing trusses is illustrated in Fig. 18. This comprises longitudinals 32 and connecting wires 38. In the present embodiment these reinforcing trusses 27 are placed upon the corresponding outer faces of the main frame and secured thereto. The spacing of the longitudinals in the main frame is varied throughoutits length, the portions in the handle being farther apart to provide a handle of sufiicient size. When the wire frame of the head is not to be embedded, a strip 35 of fiber or other similar material (Figs. 14, 16 and 17) is preferably mounted therein to receive the stringing, as will be fully described hereinafter. In any case the handle portion 37 would preferably be either embedded in some suitable material, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5, or encased to protect the hands. In Fig. 3 is shown a modified form of truss framing in which the longitudinal wires are spirally wrapped by connecting wire or wires as 38 instead of by spaced loops as described in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 1. These connecting wires would be properly secured to the longitudinals at the points of contact in the manner previously described.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2,

the wire frame (shown in Fig. 1) has been embedded in bakelite or'oth er similar material as 39. A cross section of the head portion of this embedded frame is shown in Fig. 7, the section passing through one of the stringing holes 40. Figs. 8 to 12 and 15 show sections corresponding to Fig. 7 of different forms of embedded framing, the longitudinals and connecting wires being similarly numbered. In the embodiments of Figs. 8, 11, 12 and 15 there are four longitudinals whereas in Figs. 9 and 10 there are only two. Where the frame is embedded, there maybe one or more longitudinals or reinforcing wires, but where the head portion of the frame is not embedded, four or more are preferable to obtain the proper rigidity. In the embodiment of Fig. 13, only the outer longitudinals and the portions of the connecting wires adjacent thereto are embedded.

, As has been previously stated, the frame constructions shown in Figs. 14, 16 and 17 are intended to be used without embedding of the head portions. In the constructions illustrated in Figs. 14 and 16 the outer portions of the connecting wires are bent as at 41 to fit the beveled outer edges 42 of the strip 35 and retain this strip in the frame. The strip is slid longitudinally through these bent portions of the connecting wires. The

embodiment shown in Fig. 17 differs from those of Figs. 14 and 16 in that a plate as 43 connects the outer longitudinals, the side edges of the plate being crimped about these longitudinals. A trough 44 is formed in this plate to receive and hold the stringing strip 35. The longitudinals ma be brazed orotherwise fastened to this p ate.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 6 the frame is made in two parts 45 and 46 which are adapted to be secured together. The handle sections are adapted to be dovetailed together (Fig. 6) as at 47. The frame parts are connected by suitable turnbuckles as at 48 and 49. This form simplifies the molding of the embedding material. The

.turnbuckles'permit adjustment of the head the head to.be made with small cross-sectional area. The toughness and strength of the embedding material is well known. \Vhere the head portion of the frame is to be embedded, smaller gauge wires may be used. The stringing does not come in touch with metal so that no cutting from this source can take place. Such materials as bakelite or fiber may be finished with a smooth surface so that there is very slight frictional wear on the stringing.

I am aware that the details of construction of my improved racket may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of my-invention and I reserve the right to make all such as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a racket, a frame comprising a handle portion and a head portion, said head portion comprising a plurality of openly spaced longitudinal members, and means formaintaining said members in said spaced relation.

2. In a racket, a frame comprising a han- -dle portion-and a head portlon, said head portion comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinal members, and struts interposed between said members at intervals to maintain said members in spaced relation. 3. A racket comprising a head portion and a handle portion, said head portion comprising a frame of truss construction, and including'a plurality of longitudinal members in spaced relation and stays at intervals therebetween for so maintaining said members.

4. In a racket, a frame comprising a plurality of longitudinal members in spaced relation, and means for maintaining said members in such relation comprising a wrapping ound substantially spirally thereabout.

5. In a racket, a frame comprising a plu- 1,ese,ae?

rality of longitudinal members in spaced relation, and means for maintaining said members in such relation comprising a plurality of spaced loops.

6. In a racket, a frame comprising a plurali of spaced longitudinal wires, and strut mem rs acting between said members at intervals to maintain said wires in spaced relation.

7. In a racket, a skeleton frame comprising spaced longitudinal members and struts acting between said members at intervals to form with said longitudinal members a truss construction.

8. In a racket, a frame, and a handle on said frame, said frame being, of skeleton construction and comprising spaced longi; tudinal members, and struts acting between said members to maintain said members in spaced relation.

9. In a racket, a substantially oval head of molded material reinforced with an openwork stiffening frame, a handle connected to said head,'and stringing woven through said head.

10. In a racket, a substantially oval head, a handle connected to said head, and stringing woven through said head, said head being formed of molded plastic material having an embedded 0 n-work stifienin frame extending longitu ally therethroui.

11. In a racket, a substantially oval-- sha'ged head, a handle connected to said hea head, said head comprising a series of spaced wires extending longitudinally of the head fragile and embedded in molded plastic materi 12. In a racket, a head, a handle connected to. said head, and stringing woven through said head, said head comprising a skeleton metal frame embedded in a body of molded plastic material. 4

13. Ina racket, a head, a handle connected to said head, and stringing woven through said head, said head comprising a truss frame bent into substantiall embedded in a body of mo ded plastic material. v

14. In a racket, a frame compiising a handle and a head, said handle in formed of wire reinforced molded materia 15. In a racket, a frame of molded lastic material having open connected meta reinforcing members embedded therein, and

stringing woven through the head portion of said frame.

16. In a racket, a frame comprising a head and a handle connected thereto, said head comprising a skeleton truss metal framing having a strip of aperturedmolded lastic subaance longitudinally t ereof and stringing woven through said oval form and" and supported thereby to carry the stringing of the racket.

17 In a racket a frame comprising a plurality of longitudinal members in spacedrelation and means for maintaining said members in such relation, comprising a double helix or spirally wound wire wrapped-therearound. a I

18. In a racket, a substantially oval head of molded plastic material reinforced with an open-work frame of hi h tensile strength,

a handle connected to said head, and strings woven through said head. i v

19. In a racket, a frame of molded plastic material of highcompressive strength and relatively high tensile strength, and a reinforcing frame therefor, said reinforcing frame being of higher tensile strength than the plastic molded material.

20. In a racket, a frame comprising a head and a handle connected thereto, said head I comprising a truss metal frame and a molded plastic body connected to and combined therewith. I

21. In a racket, a frame consisting of metallic wires in combination with textile material, the same being held rigidly in place by a molded impregnating material, and stringing and a handle combined with said frame.

22. In a racket, a frame formed by a combination of metal reinforcements surrounded by textile materials impre ated with plastic material and hardened to orm a rigid frame work.

23. A racket frame composed of longitudinal wires spaced apart by textile materials,

the whole bem combined with a plastic embedding material and hardened to form a frame for supportin strin 24. In a racket t e handle and head of which are formed of molded. plastic material reinforced by a, combination of textile and-metal elements.

25. In a' racket, a-frame of molded mate- 1 rial reinforced by a combination and metal elements.-

26. 'In a racket, a frame co posed of a brittle molded plastic material he (1 together by a textilefilling and metal tensile sustaining members.

27. A tennis racket having a frame composed of longitudinal metal reinforcements encased in a textile covering and secured in a hardened plastic molded body. 28.. Ina racket, a frame composed of a brittle textile reinforced molded material held together byhighdtensile metallic sustainin elements em ded or partially embedde there ROY H. noBInsoN.

of textile 

